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Escape Trilogy #1
Escaping Exile
Andrew is a vampire from New Orleans, exiled to a tropical island in the 1800s as punishment for his human bloodlust. During a storm, a ship crashes off shore. After rescuing a sailor from the cannibals native to the land, Andrew becomes fascinated with his brilliant, beautiful new companion, Edmund.
Edmund is a British naturalist who has sailed the world seeking new species. Intrigued by creatures that might kill him, immortal Andrew is this scientist’s dream—but so is making his way back home. Edmund will fight to survive, even while wrapped in the arms of a monster.
As light touches and laughter turn to something much more passionate, the cannibals creep ever closer to Edmund. Can the ancient vampire keep his human alive long enough to escape exile and explore their newfound love, or will Andrew’s bloodlust seal his own doom?
Word Count: 21400.
Edmund is a British naturalist who has sailed the world seeking new species. Intrigued by creatures that might kill him, immortal Andrew is this scientist’s dream—but so is making his way back home. Edmund will fight to survive, even while wrapped in the arms of a monster.
As light touches and laughter turn to something much more passionate, the cannibals creep ever closer to Edmund. Can the ancient vampire keep his human alive long enough to escape exile and explore their newfound love, or will Andrew’s bloodlust seal his own doom?
Word Count: 21400.
83 pages, ebook
First published August 13, 2018
11 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Sara Dobie Bauer
56books367followersBestselling romance author.
Green witch.
Feminist. Pro-choice. Anti-censorship.
Timothee Chalamet freak.
Horror movie aficionado.
Vampire mermaid in a past life.
Sara Dobie Bauer somehow survived her party-hard college years at Ohio University to earn a creative writing degree. She lives with her precious Pit Bull in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
Green witch.
Feminist. Pro-choice. Anti-censorship.
Timothee Chalamet freak.
Horror movie aficionado.
Vampire mermaid in a past life.
Sara Dobie Bauer somehow survived her party-hard college years at Ohio University to earn a creative writing degree. She lives with her precious Pit Bull in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
November 1, 2019
3.5 Stars
Andrew had a small house on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean, overrun with cannibals. He was exiled to spend eternity alone after his final slaughter. One night when he woke up there was a scent; something alive and it was bleeding�
Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s the first installment in the "Escape Trilogy". It’s a very short read, fast-paced, almost angst-free, an easy read and it contains flashbacks (but not so much). All in all, it was an enjoyable read and hope you like it as well!
Andrew had a small house on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean, overrun with cannibals. He was exiled to spend eternity alone after his final slaughter. One night when he woke up there was a scent; something alive and it was bleeding�
Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s the first installment in the "Escape Trilogy". It’s a very short read, fast-paced, almost angst-free, an easy read and it contains flashbacks (but not so much). All in all, it was an enjoyable read and hope you like it as well!
December 5, 2018
It’s extremely difficult to impress me with a vampire book. Seriously, I have read tons of them and I thought I have seen every possible vampire romance tropes. 😁 Yet, I was proven wrong. ’s was like a fresh of breath air for my creativity-starved heart. 💙 It was a bit of the short side but packed with a very unconventional yet unique and intriguing storyline, very lifelike and vivid characters and a beautiful love story.
Andrew was a centuries-old ancient vampire who was exiled from his coven in News Orleans for failing to control his urges to consume a human whole. Now, he’s alone on an island which he shares with native cannibals, all alone and lonely and depressed. Then an angel was washed ashore to this godforsaken island. A man, a beautiful man with the most beautiful golden complexion he’s ever seen, the pinkest and poutiest lips he’s so dying to taste and possesses an unwavering bravery and quick wits. The thing is it’s only a matter of time before this sailor finds out he’s actually an undead vampire and another matter of time before the cannibals find out there’s a very fresh and juicy meal residing in his home. Now, Andrew must try his very best to convince Edmund that he only wants his love and not his life and protect the man he loves even more than life itself against all odds.
I love the slow and sensual UST between Andrew and Edmund. Their love developed rather quickly but it definitely wasn’t insta. And my my my! The smut was sizzling! 🔥 I loved how I’m fact Edmund was subtly and innocently seducing Andrew all along and not the other way around. 😁 Also loved the unique storyline of weaving native cannibals into the love story of these two and a background of an island paradise. The ending was more like a HFN since this is only the book one of the trilogy but ended on a very happy note. 🥰 All in all, I was so enamored with this little morsel and I can’t wait to devour the remaining books in the series. Cant recommend enough. 👏
5 did I succeed in seducing you subtly stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
Andrew was a centuries-old ancient vampire who was exiled from his coven in News Orleans for failing to control his urges to consume a human whole. Now, he’s alone on an island which he shares with native cannibals, all alone and lonely and depressed. Then an angel was washed ashore to this godforsaken island. A man, a beautiful man with the most beautiful golden complexion he’s ever seen, the pinkest and poutiest lips he’s so dying to taste and possesses an unwavering bravery and quick wits. The thing is it’s only a matter of time before this sailor finds out he’s actually an undead vampire and another matter of time before the cannibals find out there’s a very fresh and juicy meal residing in his home. Now, Andrew must try his very best to convince Edmund that he only wants his love and not his life and protect the man he loves even more than life itself against all odds.
I love the slow and sensual UST between Andrew and Edmund. Their love developed rather quickly but it definitely wasn’t insta. And my my my! The smut was sizzling! 🔥 I loved how I’m fact Edmund was subtly and innocently seducing Andrew all along and not the other way around. 😁 Also loved the unique storyline of weaving native cannibals into the love story of these two and a background of an island paradise. The ending was more like a HFN since this is only the book one of the trilogy but ended on a very happy note. 🥰 All in all, I was so enamored with this little morsel and I can’t wait to devour the remaining books in the series. Cant recommend enough. 👏
5 did I succeed in seducing you subtly stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
January 19, 2019
This book was an absolute delight and way more than its 83 pages would suggest.
Andrew is a vampire stranded on a tropical island. His only human company the native cannibals. This changes when a ship crashes and Andrew finds a survivor before they do.
Edmund is at first glance a welcome meal but Andrew is lacking not only food but companionship. Through Edmund he learns to value human life and so much more.
While I found this book fascinating I have to say I didn’t particularly like either of the main characters. I mention this because usually this would result in the book not working for me but strangely it did. Hopefully this will continue.
I love vampire books and the differences between them. Here vampires appear to have no weakness, no way to kill them. I’m intrigued and wanting more so it’s straight onto Solitude for me now.
October 30, 2018
One of the most unique vampire novels I’ve read, Sara Dobie Bauer’s wonderfully dark Escaping Exile is a thrilling surprise. Breathing new life into this classic genre isn’t easy, and with two more episodes on the horizon, I can’t wait to see where Ms. Bauer plans to take us in her Escape Trilogy!
Banished to a tropical island, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company, Escaping Exile is Andrew’s story. Flawlessly written in the present tense, it’s easy to become immersed in Andrew’s impressions about everything he encounters. It’s mesmerizing to be inside his head as he weighs his options and makes his decisions. It feels like I’m experiencing Andrew’s journey with him.
Sara Dobie Bauer includes several chilling flashback scenes which make me yearn for more history about Andrew’s life in New Orleans. These are enticing tidbits about the members of his Coven, and their dark and fiendish ways. We also get some chilling descriptions of their nefarious activities, as Andrew shares the details of his conquests with Edmund. I love when Andrew describes draining the life blood from a young man as tasting like “‘one hundred merry Christmases’� and then goes into great detail explaining the intimate sensation of consuming a human soul.
It’s fascinating to watch Andrew process his feelings as he gets to know Edmund, and the way their relationship changes over the course of the story. As Edmund slowly reveals himself (at least what we’re able to see through Andrew’s eyes) it becomes clear these two men can have a future together. They’ve got great chemistry and the sex scenes are scorching hot. If this level of heat is typical in Sara Dobie Bauer’s writing, then I definitely want more.
While there are some very exciting events in Escaping Exile, delving into them too deeply would spoil the pleasure of reading it for yourself. It’s better if I focus here on praising Sara Dobie Bauer’s lyrical writing and intriguing storytelling, which will leave you (like it’s left me) wanting more!
Banished to a tropical island, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company, Escaping Exile is Andrew’s story. Flawlessly written in the present tense, it’s easy to become immersed in Andrew’s impressions about everything he encounters. It’s mesmerizing to be inside his head as he weighs his options and makes his decisions. It feels like I’m experiencing Andrew’s journey with him.
Sara Dobie Bauer includes several chilling flashback scenes which make me yearn for more history about Andrew’s life in New Orleans. These are enticing tidbits about the members of his Coven, and their dark and fiendish ways. We also get some chilling descriptions of their nefarious activities, as Andrew shares the details of his conquests with Edmund. I love when Andrew describes draining the life blood from a young man as tasting like “‘one hundred merry Christmases’� and then goes into great detail explaining the intimate sensation of consuming a human soul.
It’s fascinating to watch Andrew process his feelings as he gets to know Edmund, and the way their relationship changes over the course of the story. As Edmund slowly reveals himself (at least what we’re able to see through Andrew’s eyes) it becomes clear these two men can have a future together. They’ve got great chemistry and the sex scenes are scorching hot. If this level of heat is typical in Sara Dobie Bauer’s writing, then I definitely want more.
While there are some very exciting events in Escaping Exile, delving into them too deeply would spoil the pleasure of reading it for yourself. It’s better if I focus here on praising Sara Dobie Bauer’s lyrical writing and intriguing storytelling, which will leave you (like it’s left me) wanting more!
August 20, 2018
I am not usually a historical romance fan, and I avoid serials like the plague, but every once in a while a book intrigues me enough that I step outside my box and give it a chance. Such was the case with this book... 
I am very glad that I decided to give this book a go because I utterly enjoyed every minute of it. It was very well written. It is rather short, so the pace was very quick. The plot was quite original and incredibly engaging. It was smokin' hot. I found both the main characters very likable. Last, it was all wrapped up in a satisfying happy for now ending that implies more adventures to come for these two.
January 14, 2019
Andrew and Edmund
Ohhh goshh I loooove this read
I was immediately in love with the writing style. It slurped me in.
Very romantic, sexy as hell, erotic, sensual and with witty humor.
A mustread period!!
Andrew, a vampire of many centuries, lives alone on a island...on exile... not completely alone there are some canniballs. They don’t try to eat Andrew... because...
After a shipwreck Edmund lands on the beach of an almost desert island... and rescued by Andrew.
“God, he tasted like one hundred merry Christmases�
Andrew is head over heels and doesn’t want to kill this beautiful man... even his blood is very tempting.
The other creatures on the island have other plans.
б辱ó�
“His happiness is thicker than the wet air and tastes to me of honey� Sentences like this.... ghaawd I love how they so smoothly flow.
Master written story...
Now over to the next installment <3
Kindly received an arc from the author
Ohhh goshh I loooove this read
I was immediately in love with the writing style. It slurped me in.
Very romantic, sexy as hell, erotic, sensual and with witty humor.
A mustread period!!
Andrew, a vampire of many centuries, lives alone on a island...on exile... not completely alone there are some canniballs. They don’t try to eat Andrew... because...
After a shipwreck Edmund lands on the beach of an almost desert island... and rescued by Andrew.
“God, he tasted like one hundred merry Christmases�
Andrew is head over heels and doesn’t want to kill this beautiful man... even his blood is very tempting.
The other creatures on the island have other plans.
б辱ó�
“His happiness is thicker than the wet air and tastes to me of honey� Sentences like this.... ghaawd I love how they so smoothly flow.
Master written story...
Now over to the next installment <3
Kindly received an arc from the author
August 18, 2018
Meh.
That's how I feel after reading this. Just "meh."
It wasn't bad, the writing structure was good, but I didn't feel anything for Andrew or Edmund, or any chemistry between them. The sex was okay, but it wasn't as hot as I was expecting.
This is a short story, so not much happens. And I don't know how I feel about the natives of this island being cannibals and "barbarians." People in the 1800's would have thought them like that though, of course, but all the natives - not white people - were barbarian cannibals, monsters. I think they were meant to draw a parallel to Andrew, who before Edmund had no remorse for those he killed, ever. But honestly I just didn't like it, but I guess they served the purpose of being something that could kill Edmund, but I would have preferred animals like the bore or something to be the threat than for it to be other human beings who served no other purpose than to be monstrous and make Andrew think about himself.
Not that Andrew drawing the parallels between him and the natives made him feel any remorse or will to change - so honestly, what is the point? To get Edmund to see his monstrous ways? That could have been done without the cannibals and honestly, Edmund wasn't that great either.
I have loved reprehensible, amoral characters in books before (hello, ) so it isn't exactly that Andrew and Edmund both were...just...complete assholes, and both perfect for each other in their lack of morality or any good virtue at all. But really, there was nothing ELSE redeeming about them. Even their "love" for each other didn't feel real, so I didn't feel much for them because they were nothing more than bad people.
And I'm not one that likes villainous type characters all that often, but if they're written well and interestingly, I can like the character. But I didn't find Andrew or Edmund all that interesting.
Andrew has been a vampire for about 800 or so years, and has never felt bad for killing anyone, no remorse at all. There's a scene in the book that's a flashback to him and he doesn't feel one ounce of remorse for it. And that would have been fine if he was interesting at all. But nah, he's just horrible and on top of that, doesn't give a shit about murdering innocent people, so...
And Edmund isn't exactly evil or anything, but he doesn't really give a shit about murdering people (but caterpillars, he can't do????) and he's done it before and he's kind of just an asshole. In that way, he's perfect for Andrew. But also, there wasn't enough with them for them to be interesting. And also, their leap from strangers to "being in love" happens way too fast and unconvincingly. Honestly, we don't get much from Edmund, because not only is this not in his POV, but he just doesn't seem all that interested in Andrew aside from sex and "studying" him when he finds out he's a vampire.
Just...this one wasn't for me. No thanks.
That's how I feel after reading this. Just "meh."
It wasn't bad, the writing structure was good, but I didn't feel anything for Andrew or Edmund, or any chemistry between them. The sex was okay, but it wasn't as hot as I was expecting.
This is a short story, so not much happens. And I don't know how I feel about the natives of this island being cannibals and "barbarians." People in the 1800's would have thought them like that though, of course, but all the natives - not white people - were barbarian cannibals, monsters. I think they were meant to draw a parallel to Andrew, who before Edmund had no remorse for those he killed, ever. But honestly I just didn't like it, but I guess they served the purpose of being something that could kill Edmund, but I would have preferred animals like the bore or something to be the threat than for it to be other human beings who served no other purpose than to be monstrous and make Andrew think about himself.
Not that Andrew drawing the parallels between him and the natives made him feel any remorse or will to change - so honestly, what is the point? To get Edmund to see his monstrous ways? That could have been done without the cannibals and honestly, Edmund wasn't that great either.
I have loved reprehensible, amoral characters in books before (hello, ) so it isn't exactly that Andrew and Edmund both were...just...complete assholes, and both perfect for each other in their lack of morality or any good virtue at all. But really, there was nothing ELSE redeeming about them. Even their "love" for each other didn't feel real, so I didn't feel much for them because they were nothing more than bad people.
And I'm not one that likes villainous type characters all that often, but if they're written well and interestingly, I can like the character. But I didn't find Andrew or Edmund all that interesting.
Andrew has been a vampire for about 800 or so years, and has never felt bad for killing anyone, no remorse at all. There's a scene in the book that's a flashback to him and he doesn't feel one ounce of remorse for it. And that would have been fine if he was interesting at all. But nah, he's just horrible and on top of that, doesn't give a shit about murdering innocent people, so...
And Edmund isn't exactly evil or anything, but he doesn't really give a shit about murdering people (but caterpillars, he can't do????) and he's done it before and he's kind of just an asshole. In that way, he's perfect for Andrew. But also, there wasn't enough with them for them to be interesting. And also, their leap from strangers to "being in love" happens way too fast and unconvincingly. Honestly, we don't get much from Edmund, because not only is this not in his POV, but he just doesn't seem all that interested in Andrew aside from sex and "studying" him when he finds out he's a vampire.
Just...this one wasn't for me. No thanks.
August 13, 2018
I do enjoy vampires, especially if they have a dark side to their nature. Not every book delivers the darker side. However, this novella is an intriguing mix of sweet and sour. Light and dark. There are questions still to be answered but it was an interesting introduction to a trilogy.
The boy in New Orleans is barely a memory. A young prostitute, he seduced me with soft kisses. I killed him because I wanted to know what a sweet soul tasted like, but I don’t think I’ll kill Edmund.
I enjoyed Andrew's vampire scents. Not the usual citrus or pine.
My gaze skims the beach, but it’s mostly detritus and dead men. Dead men are no good to me as their blood is most certainly not part of my unique diet. Oh, but then, there’s a scent on the wind. There is something alive nearby, and it’s bleeding. The smell of blood mixes with the salt of the sea and bitter stress-sweat.
I love the use of the personal possessive mine in paranormal books too. Mine is damn near essential for my enjoyment of vampire stories with romance in them. Here, Andrew prefaces Edmund with the word my. My Edmund. My sailor. It worked equally as well.
They speak and whistle to each other, but they must be at least twenty feet away. Perhaps they fear coming any closer to the home of the dead thing that walks among them? God, I hope so. Starved of human blood, I’m weak—too weak even to defend my Edmund.
I'm happy reading present tense - and the book is told solely from Andrew's perspective - but I know not every reader is.
It's set in the 1800's but a sense of time is pretty non-existent as the majority of this book is spent on an island, and while there are non-linear stories attached to both men, the language is also not particularly representative of a period either. That may change given the ending of .
Vampire + edgy human + cannibals = Kazza. Overall, this is quite a deliciously quirky story.
"“Shit. I couldn’t fight you off if I wanted to.�
“You will not need to fight me off.� As soon as I say it, I wonder if it’s true. I don’t think I’ll accept no from him—not with the way his skin feels, the way he looks and laughs in the face of a murdering beast. He is a beguiling amalgam of brave and frightened, brilliant and insane.
Slightly longer and pictorial blog review-
The boy in New Orleans is barely a memory. A young prostitute, he seduced me with soft kisses. I killed him because I wanted to know what a sweet soul tasted like, but I don’t think I’ll kill Edmund.
I enjoyed Andrew's vampire scents. Not the usual citrus or pine.
My gaze skims the beach, but it’s mostly detritus and dead men. Dead men are no good to me as their blood is most certainly not part of my unique diet. Oh, but then, there’s a scent on the wind. There is something alive nearby, and it’s bleeding. The smell of blood mixes with the salt of the sea and bitter stress-sweat.
I love the use of the personal possessive mine in paranormal books too. Mine is damn near essential for my enjoyment of vampire stories with romance in them. Here, Andrew prefaces Edmund with the word my. My Edmund. My sailor. It worked equally as well.
They speak and whistle to each other, but they must be at least twenty feet away. Perhaps they fear coming any closer to the home of the dead thing that walks among them? God, I hope so. Starved of human blood, I’m weak—too weak even to defend my Edmund.
I'm happy reading present tense - and the book is told solely from Andrew's perspective - but I know not every reader is.
It's set in the 1800's but a sense of time is pretty non-existent as the majority of this book is spent on an island, and while there are non-linear stories attached to both men, the language is also not particularly representative of a period either. That may change given the ending of .
Vampire + edgy human + cannibals = Kazza. Overall, this is quite a deliciously quirky story.
"“Shit. I couldn’t fight you off if I wanted to.�
“You will not need to fight me off.� As soon as I say it, I wonder if it’s true. I don’t think I’ll accept no from him—not with the way his skin feels, the way he looks and laughs in the face of a murdering beast. He is a beguiling amalgam of brave and frightened, brilliant and insane.
Slightly longer and pictorial blog review-
February 9, 2019
If this would've been any other book, I would say it was too rushed. We didn't linger on thoughts, emotions or events too much (which should clue you in, that I'm left with questions), and usually I would complain. But the more I think about it, it might've turned out to be boring if it would've been more detailed. It actually flowed nicely, and I liked it.
However this rushed manner prevented me to feel their love for each other. I think it was more sexual attraction than anything else.
To me the ending was perfect, so I'm not sure I read the other books. Even though I would probably get answers to my questions. Despite that I don't feel the need to go on with the series.
Uhm... I'll go with 3.5 stars, rounded up.
However this rushed manner prevented me to feel their love for each other. I think it was more sexual attraction than anything else.
To me the ending was perfect, so I'm not sure I read the other books. Even though I would probably get answers to my questions. Despite that I don't feel the need to go on with the series.
Uhm... I'll go with 3.5 stars, rounded up.
January 11, 2019
This is a quiet tale. I had to adjusted to the author's writing style for a while., for this is my first book of this author. After that, the story was quite interesting. Definitely paranormal fantasy, because I found that Andrew is a vampire, and there's cannibals in the island :)
First part of the story, I need to finish all of the trilogy.
If you are looking for a different kind of reading, I suggest to try this book.
First part of the story, I need to finish all of the trilogy.
If you are looking for a different kind of reading, I suggest to try this book.
August 2, 2018
This was a very cool story. A very weird, but very cool story. I know that's maybe a strange way to start this, but that's seriously what went through my head as I read this novella. Ms. Bauer manages to pack a whole lot into less than 100 pages. And it's 100 percent because of the complexity of these two fascinating characters.
Andrew is a vampire who's been exiled on an island as punishment for one too many kills. He doesn't know where he's at--that's part of the punishment--and he's all alone--which is a two-fold punishment--the combination of loneliness and lack of appealing "food." Well, he's not totally alone: there are the cannibals roaming the island, but they mostly leave him alone. At least, until Edmund gets shipwrecked on Andrew's island prison.
Then there's Edmond, of English aristocracy, who's a naturalist used interacting with the planet's most dangerous animals.
There's a chance that they'll be stuck in exile together until Edmond dies. Not only is the monster in Andrew tempted to do what it knows best--feed and kill--but even if he manages to hold those instincts at bay, Edmond is mortal and the island is filled with many dangers.
The initial perceptions they have of each other at the start do not match reality. Edmond isn't as mild-mannered as he appears, and Andrew isn't a remorseless animal. Their time together brings out the best and most complimentary aspects in each other. This I expected. It is, after all, a kind of romance. And in any romance, the duo should change and become better, overcome all odds together. What I didn't expect was how nuanced these shifting perceptions are. With Andrew in particular, his view of *himself* changes, proving his perception of his own identity don't really mesh with who he really is. Because we are in Andrew's point of view throughout, we don't see the same shift of self-awareness in Edmund, but, oh my goodness, the layers! Every page we get something new, something interesting, until Edmund becomes one of the most interesting characters I've read in a very long time.
The world-building is methodical, and Bauer doesn't dump everything in all at once, but instead weaves it in through snapshots of backstory and drips of conversation. The glimpses into Andrew's past, the little flash-backs, do double duty in showing the many facets of his character while also giving us a glimpse into the vampire world he is part of.
The plot is unique and could easily have gone to the ridiculous (ack! shipwreck! vampires! cannibals! ack!), Bauer's very subtle and deliberate choices made this a fascinating slow-burn character study with enough action and heat to keep the momentum going.
If you like a little twist to your vampires, a jagged edge to your British aristocracy, and want a master class in developing complex characters over a minimal number of pages, you'll really dig this story.
Andrew is a vampire who's been exiled on an island as punishment for one too many kills. He doesn't know where he's at--that's part of the punishment--and he's all alone--which is a two-fold punishment--the combination of loneliness and lack of appealing "food." Well, he's not totally alone: there are the cannibals roaming the island, but they mostly leave him alone. At least, until Edmund gets shipwrecked on Andrew's island prison.
Then there's Edmond, of English aristocracy, who's a naturalist used interacting with the planet's most dangerous animals.
There's a chance that they'll be stuck in exile together until Edmond dies. Not only is the monster in Andrew tempted to do what it knows best--feed and kill--but even if he manages to hold those instincts at bay, Edmond is mortal and the island is filled with many dangers.
The initial perceptions they have of each other at the start do not match reality. Edmond isn't as mild-mannered as he appears, and Andrew isn't a remorseless animal. Their time together brings out the best and most complimentary aspects in each other. This I expected. It is, after all, a kind of romance. And in any romance, the duo should change and become better, overcome all odds together. What I didn't expect was how nuanced these shifting perceptions are. With Andrew in particular, his view of *himself* changes, proving his perception of his own identity don't really mesh with who he really is. Because we are in Andrew's point of view throughout, we don't see the same shift of self-awareness in Edmund, but, oh my goodness, the layers! Every page we get something new, something interesting, until Edmund becomes one of the most interesting characters I've read in a very long time.
The world-building is methodical, and Bauer doesn't dump everything in all at once, but instead weaves it in through snapshots of backstory and drips of conversation. The glimpses into Andrew's past, the little flash-backs, do double duty in showing the many facets of his character while also giving us a glimpse into the vampire world he is part of.
The plot is unique and could easily have gone to the ridiculous (ack! shipwreck! vampires! cannibals! ack!), Bauer's very subtle and deliberate choices made this a fascinating slow-burn character study with enough action and heat to keep the momentum going.
If you like a little twist to your vampires, a jagged edge to your British aristocracy, and want a master class in developing complex characters over a minimal number of pages, you'll really dig this story.
December 18, 2020
An exiled vampire, a shipwrecked sailor, and cannibals� 😳 There’s a lot going on in this fast-paced shortie by SD Bauer!
I liked the tropical setting. It was an enjoyable read, even though I couldn’t really connect with either of the MCs (I often struggle with this when reading shorter stories). They obviously didn’t have that problem � insta-lust/love alert!
Not sure I’ll continue this series, because the ending was already very satisfying and I think this would work well as a standalone.
3.5 stars.
I liked the tropical setting. It was an enjoyable read, even though I couldn’t really connect with either of the MCs (I often struggle with this when reading shorter stories). They obviously didn’t have that problem � insta-lust/love alert!
Not sure I’ll continue this series, because the ending was already very satisfying and I think this would work well as a standalone.
3.5 stars.
September 5, 2018
4.5 stars - A new author for me, but I will be watching for more. A vampire on an unknown island, alone in his exile from New Orleans. But the island is populated by zombies. What could go wrong? Well, it turns out a shipwrecked sailor washed up on the beach can make things very interesting. Loved the story and the stellar writing.
August 13, 2018
It’s the beginning of the nineteenth century. Vampire Andrew is living on a tropical island, where he was sent after he went too far while feeding. His exile is boring and lonely. The only other people on the island are cannibals, a group he doesn’t want to have anything to do with. The highlight of his stay is a shipwreck. The cannibals capture everyone on the ship besides Edmund, an English aristocrat with a passion for dangerous animals. Will Edmund survive being stranded on an island ruled by cannibals with a vampire as his savior?
Andrew likes Edmund a lot and nurses him back to health. He knows he has to fight for his human to keep him out of the hands of the cannibals. Will Edmund when he’s finally recovered feel the same about Andrew? Do they stand a chance together and will they be able to survive the dangerous circumstances they find themselves in?
Escaping Exile is a great fast-paced and sexy story. Andrew is an ancient vampire. He doesn’t have much self control which is how he ends up on a tropical island. With Edmund he has to show some restraint, he can’t kill his only chance to have interesting company. When sparks fly Andrew’s biggest dreams come true, but the situation they’re in makes their reality quite daunting. I couldn’t wait to see where that would lead. I loved their chemistry and Edmund’s fabulous fearless attitude. He’s challenging Andrew and that’s exactly what the dangerous vampire needs.
Sara Dobie Bauer has a fantastic captivating writing style. She doesn’t need many words to tell a complete story. I loved her gorgeous setting and intriguing main characters. Her story is hot, entertaining and original. Escaping Exile is a promising start of the Escape Trilogy and I’m already looking forward to the other two stories.
Andrew likes Edmund a lot and nurses him back to health. He knows he has to fight for his human to keep him out of the hands of the cannibals. Will Edmund when he’s finally recovered feel the same about Andrew? Do they stand a chance together and will they be able to survive the dangerous circumstances they find themselves in?
Escaping Exile is a great fast-paced and sexy story. Andrew is an ancient vampire. He doesn’t have much self control which is how he ends up on a tropical island. With Edmund he has to show some restraint, he can’t kill his only chance to have interesting company. When sparks fly Andrew’s biggest dreams come true, but the situation they’re in makes their reality quite daunting. I couldn’t wait to see where that would lead. I loved their chemistry and Edmund’s fabulous fearless attitude. He’s challenging Andrew and that’s exactly what the dangerous vampire needs.
Sara Dobie Bauer has a fantastic captivating writing style. She doesn’t need many words to tell a complete story. I loved her gorgeous setting and intriguing main characters. Her story is hot, entertaining and original. Escaping Exile is a promising start of the Escape Trilogy and I’m already looking forward to the other two stories.
August 12, 2018
Robinson Crusoe meets Dracula in this outstanding paranormal adventure. There are even cannibals as the innocent man who washes ashore on the island, Edmund Baines, is dragged away from danger to his “home� on the nearly deserted island. The problem is, as Edmund discovers when he awakens, that he may have been saved from one danger to be plunged into another.
It’s amazing to me that the author was able to create a world where vampires could be banned to exile for killing one too many innocents, and then she created an unforgettable character in Andrew, who was turned vampire by an Elder in the year 1066. And though he’s starved for human blood, he holds off on killing Edmund, or drinking from him, because there’s something about the fearless young man that piques his interest. Fascinated, intrigued, and finally caring for Edmund, it isn’t until he must drink from the young man to save him from the cannibals who have arrived at Andrew’s house to claim the human-scented new arrival that he finally breaks down and takes what he needs.
But their adventure is hardly over. The head vampire who originally sentenced Andrew to solitude on the island has arrived to mete out a new punishment, or will it be a reward? To find out, simply hit your one-click button. This story doesn’t take long to read, but it’s fascinating, interesting, and all-round fun entertainment for a few hours of your day.
If I had one complaint it would be that the story is short—a little over 20K words—but one would never know it by how much adventure and romance is packed in those words so it’s only a minor concern. Plus there’s a sequel on the horizon. Yay! I highly recommend this to all who enjoy a daring adventure reminiscent of the classics we read (and watched) as children. Add in a touch of MM romance and some smokin� hot scenes and it’s a sure win.
**4.5 stars**
A copy of the ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
It’s amazing to me that the author was able to create a world where vampires could be banned to exile for killing one too many innocents, and then she created an unforgettable character in Andrew, who was turned vampire by an Elder in the year 1066. And though he’s starved for human blood, he holds off on killing Edmund, or drinking from him, because there’s something about the fearless young man that piques his interest. Fascinated, intrigued, and finally caring for Edmund, it isn’t until he must drink from the young man to save him from the cannibals who have arrived at Andrew’s house to claim the human-scented new arrival that he finally breaks down and takes what he needs.
But their adventure is hardly over. The head vampire who originally sentenced Andrew to solitude on the island has arrived to mete out a new punishment, or will it be a reward? To find out, simply hit your one-click button. This story doesn’t take long to read, but it’s fascinating, interesting, and all-round fun entertainment for a few hours of your day.
If I had one complaint it would be that the story is short—a little over 20K words—but one would never know it by how much adventure and romance is packed in those words so it’s only a minor concern. Plus there’s a sequel on the horizon. Yay! I highly recommend this to all who enjoy a daring adventure reminiscent of the classics we read (and watched) as children. Add in a touch of MM romance and some smokin� hot scenes and it’s a sure win.
**4.5 stars**
A copy of the ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2023
What a wonderful start to a series! I loved both MCs, the pacing was perfect and the length of the story was just right for this introductory arc, which felt satisfying but also makes me excited for the rest of the trilogy.
I'm not a huge fan of vampire romances, particularly ones that follow the standard trope of having one MC be a vampire and the other be a young human. It's a given that the human MC will always be younger than the vampire but it's normal for the human to be very young - the same age that the younger MCs usually are in significant age gap romances. Due to the age gap already creating a massive power imbalance between the MCs, if you add in the vampire MC being more powerful, richer, experienced etc and the dynamic between the MCs is so skewed that I don't enjoy it.
But in this case, the author made some fantastic decisions regarding Edmund's characterization that made me adore him and root for his relationship with Andrew.
I loved that on the surface, it seems like Andrew would be the one to take control of their interactions but Edmund makes it clear from the start that he considers himself Andrew's equal or even superior to him. This is beautifully demonstrated so many times, especially by their behavior on the island.
In particular, I loved that the final confrontation between Edmund, Andrew and the cannibals involved . Then Edmund . But making Edmund's characterization even better is that he wasn't thoughtlessly arrogant or immature. I absolutely felt that Edmund isn't only Andrew's equal but that they make an amazing couple. The fact that Edmund is human (I have no doubt this will change later) doesn't even matter.
I also loved Andrew and it was great that the author didn't try to censor his vampire nature. He's a brutal, violent creature who has spent hundreds of years viewing humans as nothing more than toys, sex partners and sources of food. He's murdered and tortured humans with zero regret and many of his sexual interactions with humans were dub-con situations. When he finds himself exiled, he undergoes a really interesting character arc but it's one that fits his personality perfectly.
Connected to that, I also liked that the author doesn't sanitize any of the dark subject matter in the story. There's plenty of gore and violence which is described in graphic detail and there's no attempt to justify or romanticize Andrew's treatment of humans in his past. There's also zero interest from either Andrew or Edmund to humanize the cannibal natives of the island and I'm so glad that the author decided to avoid going down the politically correct route with that issue because that would have completely gone against Andrew and Edmund's characterizations.
Side note: this story is marketed as being historical but there's little attempt at historical accuracy except for the clothing that people wear. In particular, there are lots of modern phrases used in the dialog. But I didn't mind too much because most of the story takes place on a deserted island so social norms didn't matter anyway and if the flashbacks had included period-typical attitudes towards homosexuality, it would have changed many of the events that mattered. I didn't find the inaccuracies bad enough to be distracting.
Overall, I really loved this first installment and I can't wait to continue! I adore Andrew and Edmund as individual characters and also as a couple and I can't wait to find out what they'll get up to when they're in New Orleans.
I'm not a huge fan of vampire romances, particularly ones that follow the standard trope of having one MC be a vampire and the other be a young human. It's a given that the human MC will always be younger than the vampire but it's normal for the human to be very young - the same age that the younger MCs usually are in significant age gap romances. Due to the age gap already creating a massive power imbalance between the MCs, if you add in the vampire MC being more powerful, richer, experienced etc and the dynamic between the MCs is so skewed that I don't enjoy it.
But in this case, the author made some fantastic decisions regarding Edmund's characterization that made me adore him and root for his relationship with Andrew.
I loved that on the surface, it seems like Andrew would be the one to take control of their interactions but Edmund makes it clear from the start that he considers himself Andrew's equal or even superior to him. This is beautifully demonstrated so many times, especially by their behavior on the island.
In particular, I loved that the final confrontation between Edmund, Andrew and the cannibals involved . Then Edmund . But making Edmund's characterization even better is that he wasn't thoughtlessly arrogant or immature. I absolutely felt that Edmund isn't only Andrew's equal but that they make an amazing couple. The fact that Edmund is human (I have no doubt this will change later) doesn't even matter.
I also loved Andrew and it was great that the author didn't try to censor his vampire nature. He's a brutal, violent creature who has spent hundreds of years viewing humans as nothing more than toys, sex partners and sources of food. He's murdered and tortured humans with zero regret and many of his sexual interactions with humans were dub-con situations. When he finds himself exiled, he undergoes a really interesting character arc but it's one that fits his personality perfectly.
Connected to that, I also liked that the author doesn't sanitize any of the dark subject matter in the story. There's plenty of gore and violence which is described in graphic detail and there's no attempt to justify or romanticize Andrew's treatment of humans in his past. There's also zero interest from either Andrew or Edmund to humanize the cannibal natives of the island and I'm so glad that the author decided to avoid going down the politically correct route with that issue because that would have completely gone against Andrew and Edmund's characterizations.
Side note: this story is marketed as being historical but there's little attempt at historical accuracy except for the clothing that people wear. In particular, there are lots of modern phrases used in the dialog. But I didn't mind too much because most of the story takes place on a deserted island so social norms didn't matter anyway and if the flashbacks had included period-typical attitudes towards homosexuality, it would have changed many of the events that mattered. I didn't find the inaccuracies bad enough to be distracting.
Overall, I really loved this first installment and I can't wait to continue! I adore Andrew and Edmund as individual characters and also as a couple and I can't wait to find out what they'll get up to when they're in New Orleans.
May 28, 2020
This has been on my TBR for a while, so I finally read it. Not what I was expecting it to be�
Andrew made me feel so uncomfortable since chapter one. And his whole Vampire thing was so weird. He finds Edmund unconscious and bleeding but his first thought was that he could fuck and how much he wants to do that. I’d assume a Vampire would want to drink blood and since he’s been exiled in an island and hasn’t drunk human blood he’d be a little bit more focused on that� but nope.
It was such a weird story. I didn' even feel their connection and it's just so weird.
And Andrew being exiled in an island because he killed a human. He's a vampire, what kind of punishment is that? And then Edmund appears and changes his whole perspective and then everything is fine?
I'm sorry but I just could not get into it at all.
Andrew made me feel so uncomfortable since chapter one. And his whole Vampire thing was so weird. He finds Edmund unconscious and bleeding but his first thought was that he could fuck and how much he wants to do that. I’d assume a Vampire would want to drink blood and since he’s been exiled in an island and hasn’t drunk human blood he’d be a little bit more focused on that� but nope.
It was such a weird story. I didn' even feel their connection and it's just so weird.
And Andrew being exiled in an island because he killed a human. He's a vampire, what kind of punishment is that? And then Edmund appears and changes his whole perspective and then everything is fine?
I'm sorry but I just could not get into it at all.
August 1, 2018
This was a short read, but rather enjoyable. The author was able to give us a full picture of two dynamic characters in a unique story line that I found myself drawn to. The MC's had great chemistry and the sexy times were great. This doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but it does say 'to be continued', so I'm looking forward to more!
*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2018
3 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
I originally DNFed this one at 13%, but I decided to give it another shot because I love vampires and I saw so many great reviews that made me think maybe the book would get better. I did end up enjoying it more than I thought I would in the end, but it turns out I was partly right and partly wrong in my initial assessment, so here are some lists!
Things I Liked:
- How non-human the vampires were sometimes. (We got to meet another one in a flashback.) For example, Andrew referred to Edmund as "it" in the beginning, thinking about how he'd keep the human in order to show the vampire who exiled him that he could be around a human without killing it. Not to mention how vampire-y he was in the whole flashback about how he killed a human and earned his exile in the first place.
- The banter between Andrew and Edmund was fun. If anyone could handle Andrew, it would be Edmund. They made a great match.
- Andrew's feelings for Edmund were super cute.
- I didn't like the writing style at first... and then I did. It was kind of... quick? Andrew didn't dwell on descriptions, and he stated things in kind of a simple but eloquent way. It worked really well. It gave his POV a slightly disconnected, otherworldly, non-human feel.
Things I Disliked:
- Instalove-ish. I'm not entirely sure how long they were together on the island, but I don't think it was that long, and the book was so short that I didn't get to see that much build-up.
- The book was mostly focused on sex.
- They didn't use lube! That's such a specific thing to dislike, but considering that sex so prominent in the book, I feel like it's a fair complaint. I know they were on a remote island, but if they managed to find rum and salted pork in the debris that washed up, they could've also found some oil.
- There was one sex scene that started out dub-con. But Andrew was a fairly non-human vampire at times, and Edmund did want it in the end, so it's up to other people if that bothers them.
Overall:
This was a very quick read (a novella rather than a full novel), but I really liked the portrayal of vampires. I think I could've loved this had there been a little less focus on sex and had I gotten to see more of the relationship. But that doesn't make this a bad book at all, just one that wasn't quite right for my tastes. I can see other readers enjoying this.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes quick M/M romance and otherworldly, sex-focused vampires.
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
I originally DNFed this one at 13%, but I decided to give it another shot because I love vampires and I saw so many great reviews that made me think maybe the book would get better. I did end up enjoying it more than I thought I would in the end, but it turns out I was partly right and partly wrong in my initial assessment, so here are some lists!
Things I Liked:
- How non-human the vampires were sometimes. (We got to meet another one in a flashback.) For example, Andrew referred to Edmund as "it" in the beginning, thinking about how he'd keep the human in order to show the vampire who exiled him that he could be around a human without killing it. Not to mention how vampire-y he was in the whole flashback about how he killed a human and earned his exile in the first place.
- The banter between Andrew and Edmund was fun. If anyone could handle Andrew, it would be Edmund. They made a great match.
- Andrew's feelings for Edmund were super cute.
- I didn't like the writing style at first... and then I did. It was kind of... quick? Andrew didn't dwell on descriptions, and he stated things in kind of a simple but eloquent way. It worked really well. It gave his POV a slightly disconnected, otherworldly, non-human feel.
Things I Disliked:
- Instalove-ish. I'm not entirely sure how long they were together on the island, but I don't think it was that long, and the book was so short that I didn't get to see that much build-up.
- The book was mostly focused on sex.
- They didn't use lube! That's such a specific thing to dislike, but considering that sex so prominent in the book, I feel like it's a fair complaint. I know they were on a remote island, but if they managed to find rum and salted pork in the debris that washed up, they could've also found some oil.
- There was one sex scene that started out dub-con. But Andrew was a fairly non-human vampire at times, and Edmund did want it in the end, so it's up to other people if that bothers them.
Overall:
This was a very quick read (a novella rather than a full novel), but I really liked the portrayal of vampires. I think I could've loved this had there been a little less focus on sex and had I gotten to see more of the relationship. But that doesn't make this a bad book at all, just one that wasn't quite right for my tastes. I can see other readers enjoying this.
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes quick M/M romance and otherworldly, sex-focused vampires.
December 17, 2018
Escaping Exile is the opening novella for a trilogy, and the blurb basically tells you everything you need to know about the story outside of the details for Andrew’s exile. Andrew is…a vampire. His joy in killing, innocent souls in particular, against his coven’s “drinking only� mandate and the machinations of a fellow vampire, lead to his exile on the island by the coven leader. After rescuing Edmund from a shipwreck so Andrew could have him as a meal instead of the cannibals, Edmund’s attractiveness and Andrew’s loneliness override the “dark creature� within, and he spares Edmund’s life. Andrew, who considers himself a soulless monster, has spent centuries wallowing in the pleasures of sex and the kill, and is captivated enough by his unexpected devil-may-care human companion to take care of him instead of giving in to his baser desires.
Edmund is a naturalist but more in the mold of Indiana Jones rather than Charles Darwin. He’s fearless, likes living on the knife’s edge of danger, and possesses a curiosity about the living world and an almost irresistible need to touch the flames of danger that make him a perfect match for Andrew. Instead of the horror and fear Andrew expects, he receives excitement, heightened desire and a request to be studied as a specimen of his species. As they spend time together, Andrew becomes more enthralled and enchanted by Edmund’s humor, charm and intellect, and their island would be a paradise instead of a prison, if it wasn’t for the cannibals who are stalking Edmund.
For me, this novella was a quick, enjoyable enough read, and I found Edmund to be as unexpectedly fun and charming as Andrew does; on the other hand, I found Andrew to be as boring as he finds his exile. Besides being a vampire, there’s really not much to him. However, the novella does tell a complete, entertaining story, and is a good series starter. So, if you enjoy all things vampy and don’t mind a vampire born in 1036CE but is too much “a man of the city� to know anything about surviving on an island, a naturalist/adventurer who embraces death with pleasure (literally), and human cannibals with a supernaturally uncanny ability to smell that sweet, sweet non-islander long pig, then bon voyage.
Edmund is a naturalist but more in the mold of Indiana Jones rather than Charles Darwin. He’s fearless, likes living on the knife’s edge of danger, and possesses a curiosity about the living world and an almost irresistible need to touch the flames of danger that make him a perfect match for Andrew. Instead of the horror and fear Andrew expects, he receives excitement, heightened desire and a request to be studied as a specimen of his species. As they spend time together, Andrew becomes more enthralled and enchanted by Edmund’s humor, charm and intellect, and their island would be a paradise instead of a prison, if it wasn’t for the cannibals who are stalking Edmund.
For me, this novella was a quick, enjoyable enough read, and I found Edmund to be as unexpectedly fun and charming as Andrew does; on the other hand, I found Andrew to be as boring as he finds his exile. Besides being a vampire, there’s really not much to him. However, the novella does tell a complete, entertaining story, and is a good series starter. So, if you enjoy all things vampy and don’t mind a vampire born in 1036CE but is too much “a man of the city� to know anything about surviving on an island, a naturalist/adventurer who embraces death with pleasure (literally), and human cannibals with a supernaturally uncanny ability to smell that sweet, sweet non-islander long pig, then bon voyage.
August 1, 2018
Excellent vampire story.
It ends on a 'tbc' but I think it's solid enough in its own right.
Thoughts to follow.
An interesting take on a vampire story.
There's nothing sparkly about Andrew. He's not a soft-focus vampire, he's charmed and killed. Killed one too many times, which is how he ends up in exile, his only companions a tribe of cannibals, who he can't kill because they smell of death and decay. And who don't try to eat him for the same reason.
Then one day a ship crashes during a storm and a live sweet smelling man is swept ashore. Food, is Andrew's initial thought, until he catches sight of his 'dinner' and wonders if company would be a better use of the gorgeous man.
Edmund is, well, there's not a lot I can reveal about Edmund that wouldn't be more fun to out as the story unfolds (it's written solely in Andrew's POV, so we get the reveals at the same time as Andrew). I did love him though.
This book is well written and creates a perfect setting and story in such a short read (1 hr - 1.5 hrs). It's written in present tense, which I always find jarring at first but I settled into it quickly enough.
The book finishes on a 'to be continued'. This is not a cliffhanger. There is no danger present and the relationship is solid. Personally I'm happy with where the story leaves off and would regard that as a completed story. However, if I get the chance I'll certainly pick up the next book in the series.
It ends on a 'tbc' but I think it's solid enough in its own right.
Thoughts to follow.
An interesting take on a vampire story.
There's nothing sparkly about Andrew. He's not a soft-focus vampire, he's charmed and killed. Killed one too many times, which is how he ends up in exile, his only companions a tribe of cannibals, who he can't kill because they smell of death and decay. And who don't try to eat him for the same reason.
Then one day a ship crashes during a storm and a live sweet smelling man is swept ashore. Food, is Andrew's initial thought, until he catches sight of his 'dinner' and wonders if company would be a better use of the gorgeous man.
Edmund is, well, there's not a lot I can reveal about Edmund that wouldn't be more fun to out as the story unfolds (it's written solely in Andrew's POV, so we get the reveals at the same time as Andrew). I did love him though.
This book is well written and creates a perfect setting and story in such a short read (1 hr - 1.5 hrs). It's written in present tense, which I always find jarring at first but I settled into it quickly enough.
The book finishes on a 'to be continued'. This is not a cliffhanger. There is no danger present and the relationship is solid. Personally I'm happy with where the story leaves off and would regard that as a completed story. However, if I get the chance I'll certainly pick up the next book in the series.
September 23, 2020
4 stars.
August 15, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
Andrew is quite obviously off his rocker. But who could blame him, right? Besides, I kinda like my MCs to be a little crazy. Makes for more interesting storytelling.
Andrew is a vampire exiled to an island as punishment for past deeds, and Edmund joins him there after a shipwreck. Andrew's plans to make a tasty snack of Edmund gradually morph into carnal desires and then into more altruistic intentions, and the evolution of his intent is the main facet of his character development. Edmund isn't fleshed out as well, as can be expected since the first-person pov comes from Andrew, but there are enough personality quirks and foibles to make him more than a stand-in. I felt a little blindsided by the first sex scene—I had no idea we were anywhere near ready for that! Once over that hurdle, though, the rest was great. Not to mention hot! The depiction of the event which led to Andrew's exile is appropriately horrible, but then some other memories reveal that there may be more to the story. I guess we'll see what happens in the next installment.
Like any book written in the present tense, it took me a chapter or two to stop noticing the present tense style and sink into the story. I'm always resistant to it at first, especially when it's first person, but eventually I don't even notice it anymore. As long as the writing and story are good enough, that is. This flowed well enough that I quit being distracted by it around the middle of the second chapter, and I did enjoy the writing overall. There were some interesting similes and turns of phrase which kept things engaging without being too flowery or tipping over into melodrama.
Is Andrew redeemed by the end? I don't think so, although he has certainly made some progress. And there's obviously more story to come, so there's hope.
Andrew is quite obviously off his rocker. But who could blame him, right? Besides, I kinda like my MCs to be a little crazy. Makes for more interesting storytelling.
Andrew is a vampire exiled to an island as punishment for past deeds, and Edmund joins him there after a shipwreck. Andrew's plans to make a tasty snack of Edmund gradually morph into carnal desires and then into more altruistic intentions, and the evolution of his intent is the main facet of his character development. Edmund isn't fleshed out as well, as can be expected since the first-person pov comes from Andrew, but there are enough personality quirks and foibles to make him more than a stand-in. I felt a little blindsided by the first sex scene—I had no idea we were anywhere near ready for that! Once over that hurdle, though, the rest was great. Not to mention hot! The depiction of the event which led to Andrew's exile is appropriately horrible, but then some other memories reveal that there may be more to the story. I guess we'll see what happens in the next installment.
Like any book written in the present tense, it took me a chapter or two to stop noticing the present tense style and sink into the story. I'm always resistant to it at first, especially when it's first person, but eventually I don't even notice it anymore. As long as the writing and story are good enough, that is. This flowed well enough that I quit being distracted by it around the middle of the second chapter, and I did enjoy the writing overall. There were some interesting similes and turns of phrase which kept things engaging without being too flowery or tipping over into melodrama.
Is Andrew redeemed by the end? I don't think so, although he has certainly made some progress. And there's obviously more story to come, so there's hope.
August 16, 2018
A review.
4 stars
As soon as I read the blurb for this story, I was intrigued. An exiled vampire who falls for the victim of a shipwreck on a deserted island? It sounded delightfully unique and I am happy to say that the story does make good use of its interesting premise. Andrew and Edmund are perfectly suited, each somewhat wild, reckless, and unconcerned about living within society’s norms. I love the way Andrew fascinates Edmund; rather than being scared of the vampire, Edmund wants to learn all about him.
Bauer does a nice job of giving us a sense of both men in this short novella. I could see what motivated them and how they approached life. We get enough backstory to flesh out their characters, particularly Andrew who we see move from purely wanting Edmund for sex and blood, to actually caring about someone else for the first time in a long time. There is not a ton of world building here as the guys are pretty isolated, but we do get to learn a little about vampires and life for Andrew in New Orleans as well. The time period is not particularly well defined (again likely because the men are so isolated), but there is a historical feel and the blurb sets the book in the 1800s.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety .
4 stars
As soon as I read the blurb for this story, I was intrigued. An exiled vampire who falls for the victim of a shipwreck on a deserted island? It sounded delightfully unique and I am happy to say that the story does make good use of its interesting premise. Andrew and Edmund are perfectly suited, each somewhat wild, reckless, and unconcerned about living within society’s norms. I love the way Andrew fascinates Edmund; rather than being scared of the vampire, Edmund wants to learn all about him.
Bauer does a nice job of giving us a sense of both men in this short novella. I could see what motivated them and how they approached life. We get enough backstory to flesh out their characters, particularly Andrew who we see move from purely wanting Edmund for sex and blood, to actually caring about someone else for the first time in a long time. There is not a ton of world building here as the guys are pretty isolated, but we do get to learn a little about vampires and life for Andrew in New Orleans as well. The time period is not particularly well defined (again likely because the men are so isolated), but there is a historical feel and the blurb sets the book in the 1800s.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety .
August 3, 2018
**I was provided an ARC in exchange for a review. **
Andrew has to escape doom and his island, just like I escaped work for a few hours. I dove in head first in this novella and couldn’t emerge until I was done. Andrew is lonely, borderline bitter, but nonetheless charming and witty. Edmund, a beautiful human, troubled but fearless. I was instantly attached to both as they appeared, imagining them (should I say who I ‘cast� in my mind for them?). That’s one thing I really enjoyed in Escape Exile. There aren’t in-depth descriptions of the men’s features, which allowed me to imagine what/who I wanted. But the descriptions of their surroundings are vivid; I could almost smell of the ocean, the forest, even Edmund’s scent.
The dialogues and banter are witty, funny, deep, and touching, depending on the scene. I love how crude the characters can be one moment and so moving the next.
As for the level of hotness, I must admit it took me quite a long time (way before today) to enjoy M/M stories. I have absolutely nothing against it but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Then I realized I hadn’t read the right ones. And Escaping Exile falls into the right ones, most definitely.
I enjoyed myself greatly and give this novella five stars ✩✩✩✩�! I can’t wait for the second part so I can devour it as much as Andrew is hungry for blood!
Andrew has to escape doom and his island, just like I escaped work for a few hours. I dove in head first in this novella and couldn’t emerge until I was done. Andrew is lonely, borderline bitter, but nonetheless charming and witty. Edmund, a beautiful human, troubled but fearless. I was instantly attached to both as they appeared, imagining them (should I say who I ‘cast� in my mind for them?). That’s one thing I really enjoyed in Escape Exile. There aren’t in-depth descriptions of the men’s features, which allowed me to imagine what/who I wanted. But the descriptions of their surroundings are vivid; I could almost smell of the ocean, the forest, even Edmund’s scent.
The dialogues and banter are witty, funny, deep, and touching, depending on the scene. I love how crude the characters can be one moment and so moving the next.
As for the level of hotness, I must admit it took me quite a long time (way before today) to enjoy M/M stories. I have absolutely nothing against it but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Then I realized I hadn’t read the right ones. And Escaping Exile falls into the right ones, most definitely.
I enjoyed myself greatly and give this novella five stars ✩✩✩✩�! I can’t wait for the second part so I can devour it as much as Andrew is hungry for blood!
August 7, 2018
*4.5 Stars*
This novella is refreshingly different, bordering on bizarre occasionally. Yet at the same time able to keep a romantic and erotic feel to it. The author moves it at a good pace and kept me engaged.
The character development for a novella is solid. I greatly enjoyed Andrew especially but hope to learn more about the rest in the series. I do feel the world building could have been a little stronger, which is why there was a half star deduction. Some of it was a little chaotic and there was also a little repetitiveness but nothing that prevented me from reading the story or enjoying it.
Sara Dobie Bauer really shined though on the storyline. I appreciated how the story progressed. It also was able to elicit emotional responses from me despite being such a short read. It has definitely left me intrigued and wanting more.
4.5 Stars for an engaging and unique novella. Recommend!
This novella is refreshingly different, bordering on bizarre occasionally. Yet at the same time able to keep a romantic and erotic feel to it. The author moves it at a good pace and kept me engaged.
The character development for a novella is solid. I greatly enjoyed Andrew especially but hope to learn more about the rest in the series. I do feel the world building could have been a little stronger, which is why there was a half star deduction. Some of it was a little chaotic and there was also a little repetitiveness but nothing that prevented me from reading the story or enjoying it.
Sara Dobie Bauer really shined though on the storyline. I appreciated how the story progressed. It also was able to elicit emotional responses from me despite being such a short read. It has definitely left me intrigued and wanting more.
4.5 Stars for an engaging and unique novella. Recommend!
July 25, 2018
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; I received an electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing you notice about this novella is the vibrant narrative voice. You learn everything you need to know about the main character and his circumstances within the first chapter, during the inciting incident, without any hint of the dreaded "info dump." I was fascinated by this vampire before I ever learned his name.
It soon becomes obvious that this vampire, Andrew, is not a "good man." But he's a great vampire. The author uses the basics of the mythology to create a monster suitable for her world and plot purposes, while making it clear that it is impossible to judge him by the standards of human morality. Luckily, the starring human, Edmund the wandering naturalist, is a perfect match for Andrew. His own unique quirks and personal history make him an equally intriguing character.His discovery of, and reaction to, Andrew's vampirism is satisfying in a way that gives you hope for a relationship you can't quite help cheering for. This is not a love story I ever expected to read, and even though "ancient vampire + madcap human" feels like it should be quite a trope, Andrew and Edmund are a whirlwind pair who challenge and delight each other.
The structure of this novella is a perfect blend of present-day action and flashbacks to show how Andrew got into this particular situation. I also appreciated the realism of a hot and sweaty climate (on both the island and in New Orleans), including sensory details that too many authors brush over as inconvenient, un-sexy, or both.
I almost didn't read this story. Cannibals are one of my biggest "nopes" in fiction, but the author manages them well here. They are not cliched island savages -- instead, they are monstrous creatures almost as mythical as Andrew himself. Though this tale is the first in a trilogy, it does not end on a cliffhanger. The author sets great expectations for this world she has created in further installments of the Escape Trilogy.
The first thing you notice about this novella is the vibrant narrative voice. You learn everything you need to know about the main character and his circumstances within the first chapter, during the inciting incident, without any hint of the dreaded "info dump." I was fascinated by this vampire before I ever learned his name.
It soon becomes obvious that this vampire, Andrew, is not a "good man." But he's a great vampire. The author uses the basics of the mythology to create a monster suitable for her world and plot purposes, while making it clear that it is impossible to judge him by the standards of human morality. Luckily, the starring human, Edmund the wandering naturalist, is a perfect match for Andrew. His own unique quirks and personal history make him an equally intriguing character.His discovery of, and reaction to, Andrew's vampirism is satisfying in a way that gives you hope for a relationship you can't quite help cheering for. This is not a love story I ever expected to read, and even though "ancient vampire + madcap human" feels like it should be quite a trope, Andrew and Edmund are a whirlwind pair who challenge and delight each other.
The structure of this novella is a perfect blend of present-day action and flashbacks to show how Andrew got into this particular situation. I also appreciated the realism of a hot and sweaty climate (on both the island and in New Orleans), including sensory details that too many authors brush over as inconvenient, un-sexy, or both.
I almost didn't read this story. Cannibals are one of my biggest "nopes" in fiction, but the author manages them well here. They are not cliched island savages -- instead, they are monstrous creatures almost as mythical as Andrew himself. Though this tale is the first in a trilogy, it does not end on a cliffhanger. The author sets great expectations for this world she has created in further installments of the Escape Trilogy.
August 11, 2018
This was a new to me author. The book was a short sweet book. You have Andrew, who is a vampire exiled to this island for killing one to many humans. You also have Edmund who gets shipwrecked on this same island. Also living on this island are cannibals, who do pop up from time to time. During his time in exile, Andrew has learned control of his urges, well he really doesn’t have much of a choice as he wants nothing to do with the cannibals and they him. When he sees Edmund for the first time, he knows he doesn’t want to live that life anymore. This book ended on as a “to be continued� and I can’t wait to see where their adventures take them.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2018
I was given this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love, love, loved this book.
The vampire Andrew has killed one too many people and is exiled from New Orleans to an island in South America. After 4 years of living off the land and animals, another ship is wrecked on shore and there is a survivor. Given the chance at drinking human blood, Andrew must decide his fate. Does he want company more than his thirst? Is he strong enough to keep this human alive? In the end, how much can he take?
This was a short one, but I truly loved every word. The relationship was sweet and endearing and I felt like I was reading a fable towards the end. I cannot wait to read the rest of this Escape Trilogy. Book one was FANTASTIC!
I love, love, loved this book.
The vampire Andrew has killed one too many people and is exiled from New Orleans to an island in South America. After 4 years of living off the land and animals, another ship is wrecked on shore and there is a survivor. Given the chance at drinking human blood, Andrew must decide his fate. Does he want company more than his thirst? Is he strong enough to keep this human alive? In the end, how much can he take?
This was a short one, but I truly loved every word. The relationship was sweet and endearing and I felt like I was reading a fable towards the end. I cannot wait to read the rest of this Escape Trilogy. Book one was FANTASTIC!
September 1, 2018
A short book that felt like a longer one, but in a good way.
No twinkly vampires, an honest to god evil, blood thirty villian! Yay!
Told from the vampire's POV, the character development and 19C writing style drew me in. I loved the way our vamp's emotions develop from saving a shipwreck victim because he wants a live meal. Enjoyed the way the shipwreck victim's character is developed, even though we only see him from the vamps POV.
Definitely a fun way to spend an hour or two.
Recommended.
No twinkly vampires, an honest to god evil, blood thirty villian! Yay!
Told from the vampire's POV, the character development and 19C writing style drew me in. I loved the way our vamp's emotions develop from saving a shipwreck victim because he wants a live meal. Enjoyed the way the shipwreck victim's character is developed, even though we only see him from the vamps POV.
Definitely a fun way to spend an hour or two.
Recommended.
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